THE

YOGA APHORISMS
OF
PATANJALI

An Interpretation by
WILLIAM Q. JUDGE

The Theosophy Company, Los Angeles 90007
Copyright 1987 by Theosophy Company
Printed to the United States of America
ISBN 0-938998-11-0

DEDICATION

This Book is Laid upon the Altar
of Masters' Cause,
and is Dedicated to
Their Servant
H. P. Blavatsky.
All concern for its Fruits or Results
is
Abandoned:
They are left in Charge of Karma
and the Members of the
Theosophical Society.

PREFACE
TO THE FIRST EDITION

This edition of Patanjali's Yoga Aphorisms is not put forth as a new
translation, nor as a literal rendering into English of the original.

In the year 1885 an edition was printed at Bombay by Mr. Tookeram Tatya, a
Fellow of the Theosophical Society, which has been since widely circulated among
its members in all parts of the world. But it has been of use only to those who
had enough acquaintance with the Indian system of philosophy to enable them to
grasp the real meaning of the Aphorisms notwithstanding the great and peculiar
obstacles due to the numberless brackets and interpolated sentences with which
not only are the Aphorisms crowded, but the so-called explanatory notes as well.
For the greater number of readers these difficulties have been an almost
insurmountable barrier; and such is the consideration that has led to the
preparation of this edition, which attempts to clear up a work that is thought
to be of great value to earnest students.

It may be said by some captious critics that liberties have been taken with
the text, and if this were emitted as a textual translation the

vi

charge would be
true. Instead of this being a translation, it is offered as an interpretation,
as the thought of Patanjali clothed in our language. No liberties have been
taken with the system of the great Sage, but the endeavor has been faithfully to
interpret it to Western minds unfamiliar with the Hindu modes of expression, and
equally unaccustomed to their philosophy and logic.

About Patanjali's life very little, if anything, can be said. In the
RudraJamala, the Vrihannandikeshwara and
the Padma-Puranaare some meager statements, more or less
legendary, relating to his birth. Ilavrita-Varsha is said to have been his
birthplace, his mother being Sati the wife of Angiras. The tradition runs that
upon his birth he made known things past, present and future, showing the
intellect and penetration of a sage while yet an infant. He is said to have
married one Lolupa, whom he found in the hollow of a tree on the north of Sumeru,
and thereafter to have lived to a great age. On one occasion, being insulted by
the inhabitants of Bhotabhandra while he was engaged in religious austerities,
he reduced them to ashes by fire from his mouth.

That these accounts are legendary and symbolical can be easily seen.
Ilavrita-Varsha is no part of India, but is some celestial abode. The name of
India proper is Bharata Varsha. "In it and nowhere else do the four ages or

vii

Yugas— Krita, Treta, Dwapara and Kali— exist. Here devotees perform
austerities and priests sacrifice. In this respect Bharata is the most excellent
division; for this is the land of works, while the others are places of
enjoyment.'' In the Bhagavat-Purana it is said: "Of the Varshas, Bharata alone
is the land of works; the other eight (including Ilavrita-Varsha) are places
where the celestials enjoy the remaining rewards of their works." As Bharata-Varsha
is a division of Jambudwipa, and known as India, and the other Varshas are for
celestials, it follows that the account of Patanjali's birthplace cannot be
relied upon in a material sense. It may be the ancient method of showing how
great sages now and then descend from other spheres to aid and benefit man. But
there is also another Patanjali mentioned in the Indian books. He was born in
India at Gonarda, in the east, and from there be went to reside temporarily in
Kashmir. Prof. Goldstucker has concluded that this later Patanjali wrote about
140 B.C. His writings were commentaries upon the great grammarian Panini, and it
is in respect to the Sanskrit language that he is regarded as an authority. He
must not be confounded with our Patanjali; of the latter all that we have is the
Philosophy set forth in the Aphorisms.

In regard to the systems of Yoga, we cannot do better than to
quote some introductory re-

viii

marks made by Col. H. S. Olcott, President of the Theosophical
Society, in the Bombay edition of these
Aphorisms, in August, 1885. He said:

"The Yoga system is divided into two principal parts— Hatha and Raja
Yoga. There are many minor divisions which can be brought under either of
these heads. Hatha Yoga was promoted and practised by Matsendra Nath and
Goraksh Nath and their followers, and by many sects of ascetics in this
country (India). This system deals principally with the physiological part of
man with a view to establish his health and train his will. The processes
prescribed to arrive at this end are so difficult that only a few resolute
souls go through all the stages of its practice, while many have failed and
died in the attempt. It is therefore strongly denounced by all the
philosophers. The most illustrious Sankarâchârya has remarked in his treatise
called Aparokshanubhuti that 'the system of Hatha Yoga was intended for those
whose worldly desires are not pacified or uprooted.' He has strongly spoken
elsewhere against this practice.

"On the other hand, the Raja Yogis try to control the mind itself by
following the rules laid down by the greatest of adepts."

Patanjali's rules compel the student not only to acquire a right knowledge of
what is and what is not real, but also to practice all virtues, and while
results in the way of psychic develop-

ix

ment are not so immediately seen as in the
case of the successful practitioner of Hatha Yoga, it is infinitely safer and is
certainly spiritual, which Hatha Yoga is not. In Patanjali's Aphorisms there is
some slight allusion to the practices of Hatha Yoga, such as "postures," each of
which is more difficult than those preceding, and "retention of the breath," but
he distinctly says that mortification and other practices are either for the
purpose of extenuating certain mental afflictions or for the more easy
attainment of concentration of mind.

In Hatha Yoga practice, on the contrary, the result is psychic development at
the delay or expense of the spiritual nature. These last named practices and
results may allure the Western student, but from our knowledge of inherent
racial difficulties there is not much fear that many will persist in them.

This book is meant for sincere students, and especially for those who have
some glimmering of what Krishna meant, when in Bhagavad-Gita he
said, that after a while spiritual knowledge grows up within and illuminates
with its rays all subjects and objects. Students of the mere forms of Sanskrit
who look for new renderings or laborious attempts at altering the meaning of
words and sentences will find nothing between these covers.

It should be ever borne in mind that Patan-

x

jali had no need to assert or
enforce the doctrine of reincarnation. That is assumed all through the
Aphorisms. That it could be doubted, or need any restatement, never occurred to
him, and by us it is alluded to, not because we have the smallest doubt of its
truth, but only because we see about us those who never heard of such a
doctrine, who, educated under the frightful dogmas of Christian priestcraft,
imagine that upon quitting this life they will enjoy heaven or be damned
eternally, and who not once pause to ask where was their soul before it came
into the present body.

Without Reincarnation Patanjali's Aphorisms are worthless. Take No. 18, Book
III, which declares that the ascetic can know what were his previous
incarnations with all their circumstances; or No. 13, Book II, that while there
is a root of works there is fructification in rank and years and experience.
Both of these infer reincarnation. In Aphorism 8, Book IV, reincarnation is a
necessity. The manifestation, in any incarnation, of the effects of mental
deposits made in previous lives, is declared to ensue upon the obtaining of just
the kind of bodily and mental frame, constitution and environment as will bring
them out. Where were these deposits received if not in preceding lives on earth— or even if on other planets, it is still reincarnation. And so on all through
the Aphorisms this law is tacitly admitted.

xi

In order to understand the system expounded in this book it is also necessary
to admit the existence of soul, and the comparative unimportance of the body in
which it dwells. For Patanjali holds that Nature exists for the soul's sake,
taking it for granted that the student believes in the existence of soul. Hence
he does not go into proof of that which in his day was admitted on every hand.
And, as he lays down that the real experiencer and knower is the soul and not
the mind, it follows that the Mind, designated either as "internal organ," or
"thinking principle," while higher and more subtle than the body, is yet only an
instrument used by the Soul in gaining experience, just in the same way as an
astronomer uses his telescope for acquiring information respecting the heavens.
But the Mind is a most important factor in the pursuit of concentration; one
indeed without which concentration cannot be obtained, and therefore we see in
the first book that to this subject Patanjali devotes attention. He shows that
the mind is, as he terms it, "modified" by any object or subject brought before
it, or to which it is directed. This may be well illustrated by quoting a
passage from the commentator, who says: "The internal organ is there"— in the
Vedanta Paribhasha — "compared to water in respect of its
readiness to adapt itself to the form of whatever mold it may enter. 'As the
waters of a reservoir, having is-

xii

sued from an aperture, having entered by a
channel the basins, become four-cornered or otherwise shaped, just like them; so
the manifesting internal organ having gone through the sight, or other channel,
to where there is one object, for instance a jar, becomes modified by the form
of the jar or other object. It is this altered state of the internal organ— or
mind— that is called its modification.'" While the internal organ thus molds
itself upon the object it at the same time reflects it and its properties to the
soul. The channels by which the mind is held to go out to an object or subject,
are the organs of sight, touch, taste, hearing, and so on. Hence by means of
hearing it shapes itself into the form of the idea which may be given in speech,
or by means of the eye in reading, it is molded into the form of that which is
read; again, sensations such as heat and cold modify it directly and indirectly
by association and by recollection, and similarly in the ease of all senses and
sensations.

It is further held that this internal organ, while having an
innate disposition to assume some modification or other depending upon
constantly recurring objects— whether directly present or only such as arise
from the power of reproducing thoughts, whether by association or otherwise, may
be controlled and stilled into a state of absolute calmness. This is what he
means by "hindering the modifications." And just here it is

xiii

seen that the theory of the soul's being the real experiencer
and knower is necessary. For if we are but mind, or slaves of mind, we never can
attain real knowledge because the incessant panorama of objects eternally
modifies that mind which is uncontrolled by the soul, always preventing real
knowledge from being acquired. But as the Soul is held to be superior to Mind,
it has the power to grasp and hold the latter if we but use the will to aid it
in the work, and then only the real end and purpose of mind is brought about.

These propositions imply that the will is not wholly dependent on the mind,
but is separable from it; and, further, that knowledge exists as an abstraction.
The will and mind are only servants for the soul's use, but so long as we are
wrapped up in material life and do not admit that the real knower and only
experiencer is the soul, just so long do these servants remain usurpers of the
soul's sovereignty. Hence it is stated in old Hindu works, that "the Soul is the
friend of Self and also its enemy; and, that a man should raise the self by the
self."

In other words there is a constant struggle between the lower and the Higher
Self, in which the illusions of matter always wage war against the Soul, tending
ever to draw downward the inner principles which, lying midway between the upper
and the lower, are capable of reaching either salvation or damnation.

xiv

There is no reference in the Aphorisms to the will. It seems to be inferred,
either as well understood and admitted, or as being one of the powers of soul
itself and not to be discussed. Many old Hindu writers hold, and we incline to
the same view, that Will is a spiritual power, function or attribute constantly
present in every portion of the Universe. It is a colorless power, to which no
quality of goodness or badness is to be assigned, but which may be used in
whatever way man pleases. When considered as that which in ordinary life is
called "will," we see its operation only in connection with the material body and
mind guided by desire; looked at in respect to the hold by man upon life it is
more recondite, because its operation is beyond the ken of the mind; analyzed as
connected with reincarnation of man or with the persistence of the manifested
universe throughout a Manvantara, it is found to be still more removed from our
comprehension and vast in its scope.

In ordinary life it is not man's servant, but, being then guided solely by
desire, it makes man a slave to his desires. Hence the old cabalistic maxim,
"Behind Will stands Desire." The desires always drawing the man hither and
thither, cause him to commit such actions and have such thoughts as form the
cause and mold for numerous reincarnations, enslaving him to a destiny against
which he rebels, and that constantly de-

xv

stroys and re-creates his mortal body. It
is an error to say of those who are known as strong-willed men, that their wills
are wholly their servants, for they are so bound in desire that it, being
strong, moves the will into action for the consummation of wished for ends.
Every day we see good and evil men prevailing in their several spheres. To say
that in one there is good, and in the other evil will is manifestly erroneous
and due to mistaking will, the instrument or force, for desire that sets it in
motion toward a good or bad purpose. But Patanjali and his school well knew that
the secret of directing the will with ten times the ordinary force might be
discovered if they outlined the method, and then bad men whose desires were
strong and conscience wanting, would use it with impunity against their fellows;
or that even sincere students might be carried away from spirituality when
dazzled by the wonderful results flowing from a training of the will alone.
Patanjali is silent upon the subject for this reason among others.

The system postulates that Ishwara, the spirit in man, is
untouched by any troubles, works, fruit of works, or desires, and when a firm
position is assumed with the end in view of reaching union with spirit through
concentration, He comes to the aid of the lower self and raises it gradually to
higher planes. In this process the Will by degrees is given a stronger and
stronger tendency to act

xvi

upon a different line from that indicated by passion
and desire. Thus it is freed from the domination of desire and at last subdues
the mind itself. But before the perfection of the practice is arrived at the
will still acts according to desire, only that the desire is for higher things
and away from those of the material life. Book III is for the purpose of
defining the nature of the perfected state, which is therein denominated
Isolation.

Isolation of the Soul

in this philosophy does not mean that a man
is isolated from his fellows, becoming cold and dead, but only that the Soul is
isolated or freed from the bondage of matter and desire, being thereby able to
act for the accomplishing of the aim of Nature and Soul, including all souls of
all men. Such, in the Aphorisms, is clearly stated to be the purpose. It has
become the habit of many superficial readers and thinkers, to say nothing of
those who oppose the Hindu philosophy, to assert that Jivanmuktas or Adepts
remove themselves from all life of men, from all activity, and any participation
in human affairs, isolating themselves on inaccessible mountains where no human
cry can reach their ears. Such a charge is directly contrary to the tenets of
the philosophy which prescribes the method and means for reaching such a state.
These Beings are certainly removed from human observation, but, as the
philosophy clearly states, they have

xvii

the whole of nature for their object, and
this will include all living men. They may not appear to take any interest in
transitory improvements or ameliorations, but they work behind the scenes of
true enlightenment until such times as men shall be able to endure their
appearance in mortal guise.

The term "knowledge" as used here has a greater meaning than we are
accustomed to giving it. It implies full identification of the mind, for any
length of time, with whatever object or subject it is directed to. Modern
science and metaphysics do not admit that the mind can cognize outside of
certain given methods and distances, and in most quarters the existence of soul
is denied or ignored. It is held, for instance, that one cannot know the
constituents and properties of a piece of stone without mechanical or chemical
aids applied directly to the object; and that nothing can be known of the
thoughts or feelings of another person unless they are expressed in words or
acts. Where metaphysicians deal with soul they are vague and appear to be afraid
of science, because it is not possible to analyse it and weigh its parts in a
balance. Soul and Mind are reduced to the condition of limited instruments which
take note of certain physical facts spread before them through mechanical aids.
Or, in ethnological investigation, it is held that we can know such and such
things about classes of men from ob-

xviii

servations made through sight, touch, sense
of smell and hearing, in which case mind and soul are still mere recorders. But
this system declares that the practicer who has reached certain stages, can
direct his mind to a piece of stone, whether at a distance or near by, or to a
man or class of men, and by means of concentration, cognize all the inherent
qualities of the objects as well as accidental peculiarities, and know all about
the subject. Thus, in the instance of, say, one of the Easter Islanders, the
ascetic will cognize not only that which is visible to the senses or to be known
from long observation, or that has been recorded, but also deeply seated
qualities, and the exact line of descent and evolution of the particular human
specimen under examination. Modern science can know nothing of the Easter
Islanders and only makes wild guesses as to what they are; nor can it with any
certainty tell what is and from what came a nation so long before the eye of
science as the Irish. In the ease of the Yoga practitioner he becomes, through
the power of concentration, completely identified with the thing considered, and
so in fact experiences in himself all the phenomena exhibited by the object as
well as all its qualities.

To make it possible to admit all this, it is first required that the
existence, use and function of an ethereal medium penetrating everywhere, called
Astral Light or Akasa by the Hindus, should be

xix

admitted. The Universal
distribution of this as a fact in nature is metaphysically expressed in the
terms "Universal Brotherhood" and "Spiritual Identity." In it, through its aid,
and by its use, the qualities and motions of all objects are universally
cognizable. It is the surface, so to say, upon which all human actions and all
things, thoughts and circumstances are fixed. The Easter Islander comes of a
stock which has left its imprint in this Astral Light, and carries with him in
indelible writing the history of his race. The ascetic in concentration fixes
his attention upon this, and then reads the record lost to Science. Every
thought of Herbert Spencer, Mill, Bain, or Huxley is fastened in the Astral
Light together with the respective systems of Philosophy formulated by them, and
all that the ascetic has to do is to obtain a single point of departure
connected with either of these thinkers, and then to read in the Astral Light
all that they have thought out. By Patanjali and his school, such feats as these
relate to matter and not to spirit, although to Western ears they will sound
either absurd, or if believed in, as relating to spirit.

In the things of the spirit and of the mind, the modern schools seem, to the
sincere student of this Philosophy, to be woefully ignorant. What spirit may be
is absolutely unknown, and indeed, it cannot yet be stated what it is not.
Equally so with mental phenomena. As to the latter there

xx

is nothing but a medley
of systems. No one knows what mind is. One says it is brain and another denies
it; another declares it to be a function, which a fourth refuses to admit. As to
memory, its place, nature and essential property, there is nothing offered but
empiric deductions. To explain the simple fact of a man remembering a
circumstance of his early youth, all that is said is, that it made an impression
on his mind or brain, with no reasonable statement of what is the mind nor how
or where the brain retains such vast quantities of impressions.

With such a chaos in modern psychological systems, the student of Patanjali
feels justified in adopting something which will, at least, explain and embrace
the greater number of facts, and it is to be found in the doctrines again
brought forward by the Theosophical Society, relating to man as a Spirit; to a
Spirit in nature: to the identity of all spiritual beings, and to all phenomena
presented for our consideration.

1. Assuredly, the exposition of Yoga, or Concentration, is now to be made.

The Sanskrit particle atha, which is translated "assuredly,"
intimates to the disciple that a distinct topic is to be expounded, demands
his attention, and also serves as a benediction. Monier Williams says it is
"an auspicious and inceptive participle often not easily expressed in
English."

2. Concentration, or Yoga, is the hindering of the modifications of the
thinking principle.

In other words, the want of concentration of thought is due to the fact
that the mind—

2

here called "the thinking principle"—is subject to
constant modifications by reason of its being diffused over a multiplicity of
subjects. So "concentration" is equivalent to the correction of a tendency
to, diffuseness, and to the obtaining of what the Hindus call
"one-pointedness," or the power to apply the mind, at any moment, to the
consideration of a single point of thought, to the exclusion of all else.

Upon this Aphorism the method of the system hinges. The reason for the
absence of concentration at any time is, that the mind is modified by every
subject and object that comes before it; it is, as it were, transformed into
that subject or object. The mind, therefore, is not the supreme or highest
power; it is only a function, an instrument with which the soul works, feels
sublunary things, and experiences. The brain, however, must not be confounded
with the mind, for the brain is in its turn but an instrument for the mind. It
therefore follows that the mind has a plane of its own, distinct from the soul
and the brain, and what is to be learned is, to use the will, which is also a
distinct power from the mind and brain, in such a way that instead of
permitting the mind to turn from one subject or object to another just as they
may move it, we shall apply it as

3

a servant at any time and for as long a
period as we wish, to the consideration of whatever we have decided upon.

3. At the time of concentration the soul abides in the state of a spectator
without a spectacle.

This has reference to the perfection of concentration, and is that
condition in which, by the hindering of the modifications referred to in
Aphorism2, the soul is brought to a state of being wholly
devoid of taint of, or impression by, any subject. The "soul" here referred to
is not Atma, which is spirit.

4. At other times than that of concentration, the soul is in the same form as
the modification of the mind.

This has reference to the condition of the soul in ordinary life, when
concentration is not practised, and means that, when the internal organ, the
mind, is through the senses affected or modified by the form of some object,
the soul also—viewing the object through its organ, the mind — is, as it
were, altered into that form; as

4

a marble statue of snowy whiteness, if seen
under a crimson light will seem to the beholder crimson and so is, to the
visual organs, so long as that colored light shines upon it.

5. The modifications of the mind are of five kinds, and they are either
painful or not painful;

9. Fancy is a notion devoid of any real basis and following upon knowledge
conveyed by words.

For instance, the terms "a hare's horns" and "the head of Rahu," neither of
which has anything in nature corresponding to the notion.

5

A person hearing the
expression "the head of Rahu" naturally fancies that there is a Rahu who owns
the head, whereas Rahu—a mythical monster who is said to cause eclipses by
swallowing the sun—is all head and has no body; and, although the
expression "a hare's horns" is frequently used, it is well known that there is
no such thing in nature. Much in the same way people continue to speak of the
sun's "rising" and "setting," although they hold to the opposite theory.

10. Sleep is that modification of the mind which ensues upon the quitting of
all objects by the mind, by reason of all the waking senses and faculties
sinking into abeyance.

11. Memory is the not letting go of an object that one has been aware of.

12. The hindering of the modifications of the mind already referred to, is to
be effected by means of Exercise and Dispassion.

13. Exercise is the uninterrupted, or

6

repeated, effort that the mind shall
remain in its unmoved state.

This is to say that in order to acquire concentration we must, again and
again, make efforts to obtain such control over the mind that we can, at any
time when it seems necessary, so reduce it to an unmoved condition or apply it
to any one point to the exclusion of all others.

14. This exercise is a firm position observed out of regard for the end in
view, and perseveringly adhered to for a long time without intermission.

The student must not conclude from this that he can never acquire
concentration unless he devotes every moment of his life to it, for the words
"without intermission" apply but to the length of time that has been set apart
for the practice.

15. Dispassion is the having overcome one's desires.

That is — the attainment of a state of being in which the consciousness is
unaffected by

7

passions, desires, and ambitions, which aid in causing
modifications of the mind.

16. Dispassion, carried to the utmost, is indifference regarding all else
than soul, and this indifference arises from a knowledge of soul as
distinguished from all else.

17. There is a meditation of the kind called "that in which there is distinct
cognition," and which is of a four-fold character because of Argumentation,
Deliberation, Beatitude, Egoism.

The sort of meditation referred to is a pondering wherein the nature of
that which is to be pondered upon is well known, without doubt or error, and
it is a distinct cognition which excludes every other modification of the mind
than that which is to be pondered upon.

1. The Argumentative division of this meditation is a pondering upon a
subject with argument as to its nature in comparison with something else; as,
for instance, the question whether

8

mind is the product of matter or precedes
matter.

2. The Deliberative division is a pondering in regard to whence have come,
and where is the field of action, of the subtler senses and the mind.

3. The Beatific condition is that in which the higher powers of the mind,
together with truth in the abstract, are pondered upon.

4. The Egoistic division is one in which the meditation has proceeded to
such a height that all lower subjects and objects are lost sight of, and
nothing remains but the cognition of the self, which then becomes a
stepping-stone to higher degrees of meditation.

The result of reaching the fourth degree, called Egoism, is that a distinct
recognition of the object or subject with which the meditation began is lost,
and self-consciousness alone results; but this self-consciousness does not
include the consciousness of the Absolute or Supreme Soul.

18. The meditation just described is preceded by the exercise of thought
without argumentation. Another sort of meditation is in the shape

9

of the
self-reproduction of thought after the departure of all objects from the field
of the mind.

19. The meditative state attained by those whose discrimination does not
extend to pure spirit, depends upon the phenomenal world.

20. In the practice of those who are, or may be, able to discriminate as to
pure spirit, their meditation is preceded by Faith, Energy, Intentness (upon a
single point), and Discernment, or thorough discrimination of that which is to
be known.

It is remarked here by the commentator, that "in him who has Faith there
arises Energy, or perseverance in meditation, and, thus persevering, the
memory of past subjects springs up, and his mind becomes absorbed in
Intentness, in consequence of the recollection of the subject, and he whose
mind is absorbed in meditation

10

arrives at a thorough discernment of the matter
pondered upon."

21. The attainment of the state of abstract meditation is speedy, in the case
of the hotly impetuous.

22. Because of the mild, the medium, and the transcendent nature of the
methods adopted, there is a distinction to be made among those who practise
Yoga.

23. The state of abstract meditation may be attained by profound devotedness
toward the Supreme Spirit considered in its comprehensible manifestation as
Ishwara.

It is said that this profound devotedness is a preeminent means of
attaining abstract meditation and its fruits. "Ishwara" is the
Spirit in the body.

24. Ishwara is a spirit, untouched by troubles, works, fruits of
works, or desires.

25. In Ishwara becomes infinite that

11

omniscience which in man
exists but as a germ.

26.Ishwara is the preceptor of all, even of the earliest
of created beings, for He is not limited by time.

27. His name is OM.

28. The repetition of this name should be made with reflection upon its
signification.

OM is the first letter of the Sanscrit alphabet. It's
utterance involves three sounds, those of long au, short
u, and the "stoppage" or labial consonant m. To this
tripartiteness is attached deep mystical symbolic meaning. It denotes, as
distinct yet in union, Brahma,Vishnu, and
Siva,
or Creation, Preservation, and Destruction. As a whole, it implies "the
Universe." In its application to man, au refers to the spark of
Divine Spirit that is in humanity; u, to the body through which the
Spirit manifests itself; and m, to the death of the body, or its
resolvement to its material elements. With regard to the cycles affecting any
planetary system, it implies the Spirit, represented by au

12

as the
basis of the manifested worlds; the body or manifested matter, represented by
u, through which the spirit works; and represented by m,
"the stoppage or return of sound to its source," the PralayaorDissolution of the worlds. In practical occultism, through this word
reference is made to Sound, or Vibration, in all its properties and effects,
this being one of the greatest powers of nature. In the use of this word as a
practice, by means of the lungs and throat, a distinct effect is produced upon
the human body. In Aphorism28 the name is used in its
highest sense, which will necessarily include all the lower. All utterance of
the word OM, as a practice, has a potential reference to the conscious
separation of the soul from the body.

29. From this repetition and reflection on its significance, there come a
knowledge of the Spirit and the absence of obstacles to the attainment of the
end in view.

30. The obstacles in the way of him who desires to attain concentration are
Sickness, Languor, Doubt, Carelessness, Laziness, Addiction

13

to objects of sense,
Erroneous Perception, Failure to attain any stage of abstraction, and
Instability in any stage when attained.

31. These obstacles are accompanied by grief, distress, trembling, and
sighing.

32. For the prevention of these, one truth should be dwelt upon.

Any accepted truth which one approves is here meant.

33. Through the practising of Benevolence, Tenderness, Complacency, and
Disregard for objects of happiness, grief, virtue, and vice, the mind becomes
purified.

The chief occasions for distraction of the mind are
Covetousness and Aversion, and what the aphorism means is, not that virtue and
vice should be viewed with indifference by the student, but that he should not
fix his mind with pleasure upon happiness or virtue, nor with aver-

14

sion upon grief or vice, in others, but should regard all
with an equal mind; and the practice of Benevolence, Tenderness, and
Complacency brings about cheerfulness of the mind, which tends to strength and
steadiness.

34. Distractions may be combated by a regulated control or management of the
breath in inspiration, retention, and exhalation.

35. A means of procurement of steadiness of the mind may be found in an
immediate sensuous cognition;

36. Or, an immediate cognition of a spiritual subject being produced, this
may also serve to the same end;

37. Or, the thought taking as its object
some one devoid of passion — as,
for instance, an ideally pure character — may
find what will serve as a means;

38. Or, by dwelling on knowledge that

15

presents itself in a dream, steadiness
of mind may be procured;

39. Or, it may be effected by pondering upon anything that one approves.

40. The student whose mind is thus steadied obtains a mastery which extends
from the Atomic to the Infinite.

41. The mind that has been so trained that the ordinary modifications of its
action are not present, but only those which occur upon the conscious taking up
of an object for contemplation, is changed into the likeness of that which is
pondered upon, and enters into full comprehension of the being thereof.

42. This change of the mind into the likeness of what is pondered upon, is
technically called the Argumentative condition, when there is any

16

mixing-up of
the title of the thing, the significance and application of that title, and the
abstract knowledge of the qualities and elements of the thing per
se.

43. On the disappearance, from the plane of contemplation, of the title and
significance of the object selected for meditation; when the abstract thing
itself, free from distinction by designation, is presented to the mind only as
an entity, that is what is called the Non-Argumentative condition of meditation.

These two aphorisms (42-43) describe the first and second stages of
meditation, in the mind properly intent upon objects of a gross or material
nature. The next aphorism has reference to the state when subtile, or higher,
objects are selected for contemplative meditation.

44. The Argumentative and Non-Argumentative conditions of the mind,

17

described
in the preceding two aphorisms, also obtain when the object selected for
meditation is subtile, or of a higher nature than sensuous objects.

45. That meditation which has a subtile object in view ends with the
indissoluble element called primordialmatter.

46. The mental changes described in the foregoing, constitute "meditation
with its seed."

"Meditation with its seed" is that kind of meditation in which there is
still present before the mind a distinct object to be meditated upon.

47. When Wisdom has been reached, through acquirement of the non-deliberative
mental state, there is spiritual clearness.

48. In that case, then, there is that Knowledge which is absolutely free from
Error.

18

49. This kind of knowledge differs from the knowledge due to testimony and
inference; because, in the pursuit of knowledge based upon those, the mind has
to consider many particulars and is not engaged with the general field of
knowledge itself.

50. The train of self-reproductive thought resulting from this puts a stop to
all other trains of thought.

It is held that there are two main trains of thought; (a) that
which depends upon suggestion made either by the words of another, or by
impression upon the senses or mind, or upon association; (b) that
which depends altogether upon itself, and reproduces from itself the same
thought as before. And when the second sort is attained, its effect is to act
as an obstacle to all other trains of thought, for it is of such a nature that
it repels or expels from the mind any other kind of thought. As shown in
Aphorism48, the mental state called "non-argumentative" is
absolutely free from error, since it has

19

nothing to do with testimony or
inference, but is knowledge itself, and therefore from its inherent nature it
puts a stop to all other trains of thought.

51. This train of thought itself, with but one object, may also be stopped,
in which case "meditation without a seed" is attained.

"Meditation without a seed" is that in which the brooding of the mind has
been pushed to such a point that the object selected for meditation has
disappeared from the mental plane, and there is no longer any recognition of
it, but consequent progressive thought upon a higher plane.

1. The practical part of Concentration is, Mortification, Muttering, and
Resignation to the Supreme Soul.

What is here meant by "mortification" is the practice laid down in other
books, such as the DharmaShastra, which includes
penances and fastings; "muttering" is the sem-audible repetition of formulae
also laid down, preceded by the mystic name of the Supreme Being given in
Aphorism27,BookI; "resignation to the
Supreme Soul," is the consigning to the Divine, or the Supreme Soul, all one's
works, without interest in their results.

2. This practical part of concentration is for the purpose of establishing
meditation and eliminating afflictions.

21

3. The afflictions which arise in the disciple are Ignorance, Egoism, Desire,
Aversion, and a tenacious wish for existence upon the earth.

4. Ignorance is the field of origin of the others named, whether they be
dormant, extenuated, intercepted, or simple.

5. Ignorance is the notion that the non-eternal, the impure, the evil, and
that which is not soul are, severally, eternal, pure, good, and soul.

6. Egoism is the identifying of the power that sees with the power of seeing.

i.e. it is the confounding of the soul, which really sees, with
the tool it uses to enable it to see, viz. the mind, or—to a still
greater degree of error—with those organs of sense which are in turn the
tools of the mind; as, for instance, when an uncultured person thinks that it
is his eye which sees, when in fact it is his mind that uses the eye as a tool
for seeing.

22

7. Desire is the dwelling upon pleasure.

8. Aversion is the dwelling upon pain.

9. The tenacious wish for existence upon earth is inherent in all sentient
beings, and continues through all incarnations, because it has self-reproductive
power. It is felt as well by the wise as the unwise.

There is in the spirit a natural tendency, throughout a Manvantara, to
manifestation on the material plane, on and through which only, the spiritual
monads can attain their development; and this tendency, acting through the
physical basis common to all sentient beings, is extremely powerful and
continues through all incarnations, helping to cause them, in fact, and
re-producing itself in each incarnation.

10. The foregoing five afflictions, when subtile, are to be evaded by the
production of an antagonistic mental state.

23

11. When these afflictions modify the mind by pressing themselves upon the
attention, they are to be got rid of by meditation.

12. Such afflictions are the root of, and produce, results in both physical
and mental actions or works, and they, being our merits or demerits, have their
fruitage either in the visible state or in that which is unseen.

13. While that root of merit and demerit exists, there is a fructification
during each succeeding life upon earth in rank, years, pleasure, or pain.

14. Happiness or suffering results, as the fruit of merit and demerit,
accordingly as the cause is virtue or vice.

15. But to that man who has attained to the perfection of spiritual
culti-

24

vation, all mundane things are alike vexatious, since the modifications of
the mind due to the natural qualities are adverse to the attainment of the
highest condition; because, until that is reached, the occupation of any form of
body is a hindrance, and anxiety and impressions of various kinds ceaselessly
continue.

16. That which is to be shunned by the disciple is pain not yet come.

The past cannot be changed or amended; that which belongs to the
experiences of the present cannot, and should not, be shunned; but alike to be
shunned are disturbing anticipations or fears of the future, and every act or
impulse that may cause present or future pain to ourselves or others.

17. From the fact that the soul is conjoined in the body with the organ of
thought, and thus with the whole of nature, lack of discrimination follows,
producing misconceptions

25

of duties and responsibilities. This misconception
leads to wrongful acts, which will inevitably bring about pain in the future.

18. The Universe, including the visible and the invisible, the
essential nature of which is compounded of purity, action, and rest, and which
consists of the elements and the organs of action, exists for the sake of the
soul's experience and emancipation.

19. The divisions of the qualities are the diverse, the non-diverse, those
which may be resolved once but no farther, and the irresolvable.

The "diverse " are such as the gross elements and the organs of sense; the
"non-diverse," the subtile elements and the mind; the "once resolvable," the
intellect, which can be resolved into undifferentiated matter but no farther;
and the "irresolvable," indiscrete matter.

26

20. The soul is the Perceiver; is assuredly vision itself pure and simple;
unmodified; and looks directly upon ideas.

21. For the sake of the soul alone, the Universe exists.

The commentator adds: "Nature in energizing does not do so with a view to
any purpose of her own, but with the design, as it were, expressed in the
words 'let me bring about the soul's experience.'"

22. Although the Universe in its objective state has ceased to be, in respect
to that man who has attained to the perfection of spiritual cultivation, it has
not ceased in respect to all others, because it is common to others besides him.

23. The conjuncture of the soul with the organ of thought, and thus with
nature, is the cause of its apprehension of the actual condition of

27

the nature
of the Universe and of the soul itself.

24. The cause of this conjuncture is what is to be quitted, and that cause is
ignorance.

25. The quitting consists in the ceasing of the conjuncture, upon which
ignorance disappears, and this is the Isolation of the soul.

That which is meant in this and in the preceding two aphorisms is that the
conjuncture of soul and body, through repeated reincarnations, is due to its
absence of discriminative knowledge of the nature of the soul and its
environment, and when this discriminative knowledge has been attained, the
conjuncture, which was due to the absence of discrimination, ceases of its own
accord.

26. The means of quitting the state of bondage to matter is perfect
discriminative knowledge, continuously maintained.

The import of this—among other things—is

28

that the man who has
attained to the perfection of spiritual cultivation maintains his
consciousness, alike while in the body, at the moment of quitting it, and when
he has passed into higher spheres; and likewise when returning continues it
unbroken while quitting higher spheres, when re-entering his body, and in
resuming action on the material plane.

27. This perfect discriminative knowledge possessed by the man who has
attained to the perfection of spiritual cultivation, is of seven kinds, up to
the limit of meditation.

28. Until this perfect discriminative knowledge is attained, there results
from those practices which are conducive to concentration, an illumination more
or less brilliant which is effective for the removal of impurity.

29. The practices which are conducive to concentration are eight in number:
Forbearance, Religious Ob-

ness, anger, or delusion; whether slight, or of
intermediate character, or beyond measure; are productive of very many fruits in
the shape of pain and ignorance; hence, the "calling up of those things that are
opposite" is in every way advisable.

35. When harmlessness and kindness are fully developed in the Yogee [he who
has attained to cultivated enlightenment of the soul], there is a complete
absence of enmity, both in men and animals, among all that are near to him.

36. When veracity is complete, the Yogee becomes the focus for the Karma
resulting from all works good or bad.

37. When abstinence from theft, in mind and act, is complete in the

31

Yogee, he
has the power to obtain all material wealth.

38. When continence is complete, there is a gain of strength, in body and
mind.

It is not meant here that a student practising continence solely, and
neglecting the other practices enjoined, will gain strength. All parts of the
system must be pursued concurrently, on the mental, moral, and physical
planes.

39. When covetousness is eliminated, there comes to the Yogee a knowledge of
everything relating to, or which has taken place in, former states of existence.

"Covetousness" here applies not only to coveting any object, but also to
the desire for enjoyable conditions of mundane existence, or even for mundane
existence itself.

40. From purification of the mind and body there arises in the Yogee a
thorough discernment of the cause and nature of the body, whereupon

32

he loses
that regard which others have for the bodily form; and he also ceases to feel
the desire of, or necessity for, association with his fellow-beings that is
common among other men.

41. From purification of the mind and body also ensure to the Yogee a complete
predominance of the quality of goodness, complacency, intentness, subjugation of
the senses, and fitness for contemplation and comprehension of the soul as
distinct from nature.

42. From contentment in its perfection the Yogee acquires superlative
felicity.

43. When austerity is thoroughly practised by the Yogee, the result thereof is
a perfecting and heightening of the bodily senses by the removal of impurity.

33

44. Through inaudible muttering there is a meeting with one's favorite Deity.

By properly uttered invocations—here referred to in the significant
phrase "inaudible mutterings," the higher powers in nature, ordinarily unseen
by man, are caused to reveal themselves to the sight of the Yogee; and inasmuch
as all the powers in nature cannot be evoked at once, the mind must be
directed to some particular force, or power in nature—hence the use of the
term "with one's favorite Deity."

45. Perfection in meditation comes from persevering devotion to the Supreme
Soul.

46. A posture assumed by a Yogi must be steady and pleasant.

For the clearing up of the mind of the student it is to be observed that
the "postures" laid down in various systems of "Yoga" are not absolutely
essential to the successful pursuit of the practice of concentration and
attainment of its ultimate fruits. All such "postures," as prescribed by Hindu
writers, are based upon an accurate knowledge of the phy-

34

siological effects
produced by them, but at the present day they are only possible for Hindus,
who from their earliest years are accustomed to assuming them.

47. When command over the postures has been thoroughly attained, the effort
to assume them is easy; and when the mind has become thoroughly identified with
the boundlessness of space, the posture becomes steady and pleasant.

48. When this condition has been attained, the Yogee feels no assaults from
the pairs of opposites.

By "pairs of opposites" reference is made to the conjoined classification,
all through the Hindu philosophical and metaphysical systems, of the opposed
qualities, conditions, and states of being, which are eternal sources of
pleasure or pain in mundane existence, such as cold and heat, hunger and
satiety, day and night, poverty and riches, liberty and despotism.

49. Also, when this condition has been

35

attained, there should succeed
regulation of the breath, in exhalation, inhalation, and retention.

50. This regulation of the breath, which is in exhalation, inhalation, and
retention, is further restricted by conditions of time, place, and number, each
of which may be long or short.

51. There is a special variety of breath regulation which has reference to
both that described in the last preceding aphorism and the inner sphere of
breathing.

Aphorisms49,50,51 allude to
regulation of the breath as a portion of the physical exercises referred to in
the note upon Aphorism46, acquaintance with the rules and
prescriptions for which, on the part of the student, is inferred by Patanjali.
Aphorism50 refers merely to the regulation of the several
periods, degrees of force; and number of alternating recurrences of the three
divisions of breathing—exhalation, inhalation, and

36

retention of the breath.
But Aphorism51 alludes to another regulation of the breath,
which is its governance by the mind so as to control its direction to and
consequent influence upon certain centers of nerve perception within the human
body for the production of physiological, followed by psychic effects.

52. By means of this regulation of the breath, the obscuration of the mind
resulting from the influence of the body is removed.

53. And thus the mind becomes prepared for acts of attention.

54. Restraint is the accommodation of the senses to the nature of the mind,
with an absence on the part of the senses of their sensibility to direct
impression from objects.

3. This contemplation, when it is practised only in respect to a material
subject or object of sense, is meditation.

This is called Samadhi.

4. When this fixedness of attention, contemplation, and meditation are
practised with respect to one object, they together constitute what is called
Sanyama.

We have no word in English corresponding to Sanyama. The
translators have used the word restraint, but this is inadequate and
mis-

38

leading, although it is a correct translation. When a Hindu says that an
ascetic is practising restraint according to this system in respect to any
object, he means that he is performing Sanyama, while in English it
may indicate that he is restraining himself from some particular thing or act,
and this is not the meaning of Sanyama. We have used the language of
the text, but the idea may perhaps be better conveyed by "perfect
concentration."

5. By rendering Sanyama—or the operation of fixed attention,
contemplation, and meditation—natural and easy, an accurate discerning power
is developed.

This "discerning power" is a distinct faculty which this practice alone
develops, and is not possessed by ordinary persons who have not pursued
concentration.

6. Sanyama is to be used in proceeding step by step in overcoming
all modifications of the mind, from the more apparent to those the most subtle.

39

[See note to Aphorism2,BookI.] The
student is to know that after he has overcome the afflictions and obstructions
described in the preceding books, there are other modifications of a recondite
character suffered by the mind, which are to be got rid of by means of
Sanyama. When he has reached that stage the difficulties will reveal
themselves to him.

7. The three practices—attention, contemplation, and meditation—are
more efficacious for the attainment of that kind of meditation called, "that in
which there is distinct cognition," than the first five means heretofore
described as "not killing, veracity, not stealing, continence, and not
coveting."

See Aphorism 17, Book I.

8. Attention, contemplation, and meditation are anterior to and not
immediately productive of that kind of meditation in which the distinct
cognition of the object is lost, which

40

is called meditation without a seed.

9. There are two trains of self-reproductive thought, the first of which
results from the mind being modified and shifted by the object or subject
contemplated; the second, when it is passing from that modification and is
becoming engaged only with the truth itself; at the moment when the first is
subdued and the mind is just becoming intent, it. is concerned in both of those
two trains of self-reproductive thought, and this state is technically called
Nirodha.

10. In that state of meditation which has been called Nirodha, the
mind has an uniform flow.

11. When the mind has overcome and fully controlled its
natural inclination to consider diverse objects,

41

and begins to become intent upon a single one, meditation is
said to be reached.

12. When the mind, after becoming fixed upon a single object, has ceased to
be concerned in any thought about the condition, qualities, or relations of the
thing thought of, but is absolutely fastened upon the object itself, it is then
said to be intent upon a single point—a state technically called Ekagrata.

13. The three major classes of perception regarding the characteristic
property, distinctive mark or use, and possible changes of use or relation, of
any object or organ of the body contemplated by the mind, have been sufficiently
explained by the foregoing exposition of the

42

manner in which the mind is
modified.

It is very difficult to put this aphorism into English. The three words
translated as "characteristic property, distinctive mark or use, and possible
change of use" are Dharma,Lakshana, and
Avastha,
and may be thus illustrated: Dharma, as, say, the clay of which a jar
is composed, Lakshana, the idea of a jar thus constituted, and
Avastha, the consideration that the jar alters every moment, in that it
becomes old, or is otherwise affected.

14. The properties of an object presented to the mind are: first, those which
have been considered and dismissed from view; second, those under consideration;
and third, that which is incapable of denomination because it is not special,
but common to all matter.

The third class above spoken of has reference to a tenet of the philosophy
which holds that all objects may and will be finally "resolved into nature" or
one basic substance; hence gold may be considered as mere matter,

43

and
therefore not different—not to be separately denominated in final analysis—from earth.

15. The alterations in the order of the three-fold mental modifications
before described, indicate to the ascetic the variety of changes which a
characteristic property is to undergo when contemplated.

16. A knowledge of past and future events comes to an ascetic from his
performing Sanyama in respect to the three-fold mental modifications
just explained.

See Aphorism4, where
"Sanyama" is explained as
the use or operation of attention, contemplation, and meditation in respect to
a single object.

I7. In the minds of those who have not attained to concentration, there is a
confusion as to uttered sounds, terms, and knowledge, which results from
comprehending these three in-

44

discriminately; but when an ascetic views these
separately, by performing "Sanyama" respecting them, he attains the
power of understanding the meaning of any sound uttered by any sentient being.

18. A knowledge of the occurrences experienced in former incarnations arises
in the ascetic from holding before his mind the trains of self-reproductive
thought and concentrating himself upon them.

19. The nature of the mind of another person becomes known to the ascetic
when he concentrates his own mind upon that other person.

20. Such concentration will not, however, reveal to the ascetic the
fundamental basis of the other person's mind, because he does not

45

"perform
Sanyama" with that object before him.

21. By performing concentration in regard to the properties and essential
nature of form, especially that of the human body, the ascetic acquires the
power of causing the disappearance of his corporeal frame from the sight of
others, because thereby its property of being apprehended by the eye is checked,
and that property of Sattwa which exhibits itself as luminousness is
disconnected from the spectator's organ of sight.

Another great difference between this philosophy and modern science is here
indicated. The schools of today lay down the rule that if there is a healthy
eye in line with the rays of light reflected from an object—such as a human
body—the latter will be seen, and that no action of the mind of the person
looked at can inhibit the functions of the optic nerves and

46

retina of the
onlooker. But the ancient Hindus held that all things are seen by reason of
that differentiation of Satwa—one of the three great qualities
composing all things—which is manifested as luminousness, operating in
conjunction with the eye, which is also a manifestation of Satwa in
another aspect. The two must conjoin; the absence of luminousness or its being
disconnected from the seer's eye will cause a disappearance. And as the
quality of luminousness is completely under the control of the ascetic, he
can, by the process laid down, check it, and thus cut off from the eye of the
other an essential element in the seeing of any object.

22. In the same manner, by performing Sanyama in regard to any
particular organ of sense—such as that of hearing, or of feeling, or of
tasting, or of smelling—the ascetic acquires the power to cause cessation of
the functions of any of the organs of another or of himself, at will.

The ancient commentator differs from others with regard
to this aphorism, in that he

47

asserts that it is a portion of the original text, while
they affirm that it is not, but an interpolation.

23. Action is of two kinds; first, that accompanied by anticipation of
consequences; second, that which is without any anticipation of consequences. By
performing concentration with regard to these kinds of action, a knowledge
arises in the ascetic as to the time of his death.

Karma, resultant from actions of both kinds in present and in
previous incarnations, produces and affects our present bodies, in which we
are performing similar actions. The ascetic, by steadfastly contemplating all
his actions in this and in previous incarnations (see Aphorism18),
is able to know absolutely the consequences resultant from actions he has
performed, and hence has the power to calculate correctly the exact length of
his life.

24. By performing concentration in regard to benevolence, tenderness,
complacency, and disinterested-

48

ness, the ascetic is able to acquire the
friendship of whomsoever he may desire.

25. By performing concentration with regard to the powers of the elements, or
of the animal kingdom, the ascetic is able to manifest those in himself.

26. By concentrating his mind upon minute, concealed or distant objects, in
every department of nature, the ascetic acquires thorough knowledge concerning
them.

27. By concentrating his mind upon the sun, a knowledge arises in the ascetic
concerning all spheres between the earth and the sun.

28. By concentrating his mind upon the moon, there arises in the ascetic a
knowledge of the fixed stars.

29. By concentrating his mind upon the polar star, the ascetic is able

49

to
know the fixed time and motion of every star in the Brahmanda of which
this earth is a part.

"Brahmanda" here means the great system, called by some
"universe," in which this world is.

30. By concentrating his mind upon the solar plexus, the ascetic acquires a
knowledge of the structure of the material body.

31. By concentrating his mind upon the nerve center in the pit of the throat,
the ascetic is able to overcome hunger and thirst.

32. By concentrating his mind upon the nerve center below the pit of the
throat, the ascetic is able to prevent his body being moved, without any
resistant exertion of his muscles.

33. By concentrating his mind upon the light in the head the ascetic

50

acquires
the power of seeing divine beings.

There are two inferences here which have nothing to correspond to them in
modern thought. One is, that there is a light in the head; and the other, that
there are divine beings who may be seen by those who thus concentrate upon the
"light in the head." It is held that a certain nerve, or psychic current,
called Brahmarandhra-nadi, passes out through the brain near the top
of the head. In this there collects more of the luminous principle in nature
than elsewhere in the body and it is called jyotis—the light in
the head. And, as every result is to be brought about by the use of
appropriate means, the seeing of divine beings can be accomplished by
concentration upon that part of the body more nearly connected with them. This
point—the end of
Brahmarandhra-nadi—is also the place where the connexion is made between man and the solar forces.

34. The ascetic can, after long practice, disregard the various aids to
concentration hereinbefore recommended for the easier acquirement

51

of knowledge,
and will be able to possess any knowledge simply through the desire therefor.

35. By concentrating his mind upon the Hridaya, the ascetic acquires
penetration and knowledge of the mental conditions, purposes, and thoughts of
others, as well as an accurate comprehension of his own.

Hridaya is the heart. There is some disagreement among mystics as
to whether the muscular heart is meant, or some nervous center to which it
leads, as in the case of a similar direction for concentrating on the
umbilicus, when, in fact, the field of nerves called the solar plexus is
intended.

36. By concentrating his mind upon the true nature of the soul as being
entirely distinct from any experiences, and disconnected from all material
things, and dissociated from the understanding, a knowledge of the true nature
of the soul itself arises in the ascetic.

52

37. From the particular kind of concentration last described, there arises in
the ascetic, and remains with him at all times, a knowledge concerning all
things, whether they be those apprehended through the organs of the body or
otherwise presented to his contemplation.

38. The powers hereinbefore described are liable to become obstacles in the
way of perfect concentration, because of the possibility of wonder and pleasure
flowing from their exercise, but are not obstacles for the ascetic who is
perfect in the practice enjoined.

"Practice enjoined," see Aphorisms36,37.

39. The inner self of the ascetic may be transferred to any other body and
there have complete control, because he has ceased to be mentally attached to
objects of sense, and

53

through his acquisition of the knowledge of the manner in
and means by which the mind and body are connected.

As this philosophy holds that the mind, not being the result of brain,
enters the body by a certain road and is connected with it in a particular
manner, this aphorism declares that, when the ascetic acquires a knowledge of
the exact process of connecting mind and body, he can connect his mind with
any other body, and thus transfer the power to use the organs of the occupied
frame in experiencing effects from the operations of the senses.

40. By concentrating his mind upon, and becoming master of, that vital energy
called Udana, the ascetic acquires the power of arising from beneath
water, earth, or other superincumbent matter.

Udana is the name given to one of the so-called "vital airs."
These, in fact, are certain nervous functions for which our physiology has no
name, and each one of which has its own office. It may be said that by knowing
them,

54

and how to govern them, one can alter his bodily polarity at will. The
same remarks apply to the next aphorism.

41. By concentrating his mind upon the vital energy called Samana,
the ascetic acquires the power to appear as if blazing with light.

[This effect has been seen by the interpreter on several occasions when in
company with one who had acquired the power. The effect was as if the person
had a luminousness under the skin.—
W. Q. J.]

42. By concentrating his mind upon the relations between the ear and
Akasa, the ascetic acquires the power of hearing all sounds, whether upon
the earth or in the æther, and whether far or near.

The word Akasa has been translated both as "æther" and "astral
light." In this aphorism it is employed in the former sense. Sound, it will
remembered, is the distinctive property of this element.

43. By concentrating his mind upon

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the human body, in its relations to air
and space, the ascetic is able to change at will the polarity of his body, and
consequently acquires the power of freeing it from the control of the laws of
gravitation.

44. When the ascetic has completely mastered all the influences which the
body has upon the inner man, and has laid aside all concern in regard to it, and
in no respect is affected by it, the consequence is a removal of all
obscurations of the intellect.

45. The ascetic acquires complete control over the elements by concentrating
his mind upon the five classes of properties in the manifested universe; as,
first, those of gross or phenomenal character; second, those of form; third,
those of subtle quality; fourth, those sus-

56

ceptible of distinction as to light,
action, and inertia; fifth, those having influence in their various degrees for
the production of fruits through their effects upon the mind.

46. From the acquirement of such power over the elements there results to the
ascetic various perfections, to wit, the power to project his inner-self into
the smallest atom, to expand his inner-self to the size of the largest body, to
render his material body light or heavy at will, to give indefinite extension to
his astral body or its separate members, to exercise an irresistible will upon
the minds of others, to obtain the highest excellence of the material body, and
the ability to preserve such excellence when obtained.

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47. Excellence of the material body consists in color, loveliness of form,
strength, and density.

48. The ascetic acquires complete control over the organs of sense from
having performed Sanyama (concentration) in regard to perception, the
nature of the organs, egoism, the quality of the organs as being in action or at
rest, and their power to produce merit or demerit from the connexion of the mind
with them.

49. Therefrom spring up in the ascetic the powers; to move his body from one
place to another with the quickness of thought, to extend the operations of his
senses beyond the trammels of place or the obstructions of matter, and to alter
any natural object from one form to another.

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50. In the ascetic who has acquired the accurate discriminative knowledge of
the truth and of the nature of the soul, there arises a knowledge of all
existences in their essential natures and a mastery over them.

51. In the ascetic who acquires an indifference even to the last mentioned
perfection, through having destroyed the last germs of desire, there comes a
state of the soul that is called Isolation.

[See note on Isolation in Book IV.]

52. The ascetic ought not to form association with celestial beings who may
appear before him, nor exhibit wonderment at their appearance, since the result
would be a renewal of afflictions of the mind.

53. A great and most subtile knowledge springs from the discrimina-

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tion that
follows upon concentration of the mind performed with regard to the relation
between moments and their order.

In this Patanjali speaks of ultimate divisions of time which cannot be
further divided, and of the order in which they precede and succeed each
other. It is asserted that a perception of these minute periods can be
acquired, and the result will be that he who discriminates thus goes on to
greater and wider perception of principles in nature which are so recondite
that modern philosophy does not even know of their existence. We know that we
can all distinguish such periods as days or hours, and there are many persons,
born mathematicians, who are able to perceive the succession of minutes and
can tell exactly without a watch how many have elapsed between any two given
points in time. The minutes, so perceived by these mathematical wonders, are,
however, not the ultimate divisions of time referred to in the Aphorism, but
are themselves composed of such ultimates. No rules can be given for such
concentration as this, as it is so far on the road of progress that the
ascetic finds the rules himself, after having mastered all the anterior
processes.

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54. Therefrom results in the ascetic a power to discern subtile differences
impossible to be known by other means.

55. The knowledge that springs from this perfection of discriminative power
is called "knowledge that saves from rebirth." It has all things and the nature
of all things for its objects, and perceives all that hath been and that is,
without limitations of time, place, or circumstance, as if all were in the
present and the presence of the contemplator.

Such an ascetic as is referred to in this and the next aphorism, is a
Jivanmukta and is not subject to reincarnation. He, however, may live yet
upon earth but is not in any way subject to his body, the soul being perfectly
free at every moment. And such is held to be the state of those beings called,
in theosophical literature, Adepts, Mahatmas, Masters.

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56. When the mind no longer conceives itself to be the knower, or
experiencer, and has become one with the soul—the real knower and experiencer—Isolation takes place and the soul is emancipated.

1. Perfections of body, or superhuman powers are produced by birth, or by
powerful herbs, or by incantations, penances, or meditations.

The sole cause of permanent perfections is meditation performed in
incarnations prior to that in which the perfection appears, for perfection by
birth, such as the power of birds to fly, is impermanent, as also are those
following upon incantations, elixirs and the like. But as meditation reaches
within, it affects each incarnation. It must also follow that evil meditation
will have the result of begetting perfection in evil.

2. The change of a man into another class of being—such as that of a
celestial being—is effected by the transfusion of natures.

This alludes to the possibility—admitted by the Hindus—of a man's
being altered into one

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of the Devas, or celestial beings, through the
force of penances and meditation.

3. Certain merits, works, and practices are called "occasional" because they
do not produce essential modification of nature; but they are effective for the
removal of obstructions in the way of former merit, as in the case of the
husbandman who removes impediments in the course of the irrigating stream, which
then flows forward.

This is intended to further explain Aphorism2 by
showing, that in any incarnation certain practices [e.g. those
previously laid down] will clear away the obscurations of a man's past
Karma, upon which that Karma will manifest itself; whereas, if
the practices were not pursued, the result of past meditation might be delayed
until yet another life.

4. The minds acting in the various bodies which the ascetic voluntarily
assumes are the production of his egoism alone.

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5. And for the different activities of those various minds, the ascetic's
mind is the moving cause.

6. Among the minds differently constituted by reason of birth, herbs,
incantations, penances, and meditation, that one alone which is due to
meditation is destitute of the basis of mental deposits from works.

The aphorism applies to all classes of men, and not to bodies assumed by
the ascetic; and there must always be kept in view the doctrine of the
philosophy that each life leaves in the Ego mental deposits which form the
basis upon which subsequent vicissitudes follow in other lives.

7. The work of the ascetic is neither pure nor dark, but is peculiar to
itself, while that of others is of three kinds.

The three kinds of work alluded to are (1) pure in action and motive; (2)
dark, such as

65

that of infernal beings; (3) that of the general run of men,
pure-dark. The 4th is that of the ascetic.

8. From these works there results, in every incarnation, a manifestation of
only those mental deposits which can come to fructification in the environment
provided.

9. Although. the manifestation of mental deposits may be intercepted by
unsuitable environments, differing as to class, place, and time, there is an
immediate relation between them, because the memory and the train of
self-reproductive thought are identical.

This is to remove a doubt caused by Aphorism8, and is
intended to show that memory is not due to mere brain matter, but is possessed
by the incarnating ego, which holds all the mental deposits in a latent state,
each one becoming manifest whenever the suitable bodily constitution and
environment are provided for it.

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10. The mental deposits are eternal because of the force of the desire which
produced them.

In the Indian edition this reads that the deposits remain because of the
"benediction." And as that word is used in a special sense, we do not give it
here. All mental deposits result from a desire for enjoyment, whether it be
from a wish to avoid in the next life certain pain suffered in this, or from
the positive feeling expressed in the desire, "may such and such pleasure
always be mine." This is called a "benediction." And the word "eternal" has
also a special signification, meaning only that period embraced by a "day of
Brahma," which lasts for a thousand ages.

11. As they are collected by cause, effect, substratum, and support, when
those are removed, the result is that there is a non-existence of the mental
deposits.

This aphorism supplements the preceding one, and intends to show that,
although the deposits will remain during "eternity" if left to themselves—being always added to by new

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experiences and similar desires—yet they may
be removed by removing producing causes.

12. That which is past and that which is to come, are not reduced to
non-existence, for the relations of the properties differ one from the other.

13. Objects, whether subtile or not, are made up of the three qualities.

The "three qualities" are Sattwa,Rajas,Tamas,
or Truth, Activity, and Darkness: Truth corresponding to light and joy;
Activity to passion; and Darkness to evil, rest, indifference, sloth, death.
All manifested objects are compounded of these three.

14. Unity of things results from unity of modification.

15. Cognition is distinct from the object, for there is diversity of thoughts
among observers of one object.

16. An object is cognized or not cognized by the mind accordingly as

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the mind
is or is not tinted or affected by the object.

17. The modifications of the mind are always known to the presiding spirit,
because it is not subject to modification.

Hence, through all the changes to which the mind and soul are subject, the
spiritual soul, Ishwara, remains unmoved, "the witness and
spectator."

18. The mind is not self-illuminative, because it is an instrument of the
soul, is colored and modified by experiences and objects, and is cognized by the
soul.

19. Concentrated attention to two objects cannot take place simultaneously.

20. If one perception be cognizable by another, then there would be the
further necessity for cognition of cognition, and from that a confu-

69

sion of
recollection would take place.

21. When the understanding and the soul are united, then self-knowledge
results.

The self-knowledge spoken of here is that interior illumination desired by
all mystics, and is not merely a knowledge of self in the ordinary sense.

22. The mind, when united with the soul and fully conversant with knowledge,
embraces

universally all objects.

23. The mind, though assuming various forms by reason of innumerable mental
deposits, exists for the purpose of the soul's emancipation and operates in
co-operation therewith.

24. In him who knows the difference between the nature of soul and mind, the
false notion regarding the soul comes to an end.

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The mind is merely a tool, instrument, or means, by which the soul acquires
experiences and knowledge. In each incarnation the mind is, as it were, new.
It is a portion of the apparatus furnished to the soul through innumerable
lives for obtaining experience and reaping the fruit of works performed. The
notion that the mind is either knower or experiencer is a false one, which is
to be removed before emancipation can be reached by soul. It was therefore
said that the mind operates or exists for the carrying out of the soul's
salvation, and not the soul for the mind's sake. When this is fully
understood, the permanency of soul is seen, and all the evils flowing from
false ideas begin to disappear.

25. Then the mind becomes deflected toward discrimination and bowed down
before Isolation.

26. But in the intervals of meditation other thoughts arise, in consequence
of the continuance of old impressions not yet expunged.

27. The means to be adopted for the avoidance and elimination of these

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are
the same as before given for obviating the afflictions.

28. If the ascetic is not desirous of the fruits, even when perfect knowledge
has been attained, and is not inactive, the meditation technically called
DharmaMegha—cloud of virtue—takes place from his absolutely
perfect discriminative knowledge.

The commentator explains that, when the ascetic has reached the point
described in Aphorism25, if he bends his concentration
toward the prevention of all other thoughts, and is not desirous of attaining
the powers resulting just at his wish, a further state of meditation is
reached which is called "cloud of virtue," because it is such as will, as it
were, furnish the spiritual rain for the bringing about of the chief end of
the soul—entire emancipation. And it contains a warning that, until that
chief end is obtained, the desire for fruits is an obstacle.

29. Therefrom results the removal of the afflictions and all works.

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30. Then, from infinity of knowledge absolutely free from obscuration and
impurity, that which is knowable appears small and easy to grasp.

31. Thereupon, the alternation in the modifications of the qualities, having
accomplished the soul's aim—experience and emancipation—comes to an end.

32. It is then perceived that the moments and their order of precedence and
succession are the same.

This is a step further than Aphorism53,Book III,
where it is stated that from discrimination of ultimates of time a perception
of the very subtle and recondite principles of the universe results. Here,
having arrived at Isolation, the ascetic sees beyond even the
ultimates, and they, although capable of affecting the man who has not reached
this stage, are for the ascetic identical, because he is a master of them. It
is extremely difficult to interpret this aphor-

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ism; and in the original it
reads that "theorderiscounterpart
ofthemoment." To express it in another way, it may be
said that in the species of meditation adverted to in Aphorism
53,Book III, a calculative cognition goes forward in the mind,
during which, the contemplator not yet being thoroughly master of these
divisions of time, is compelled to observe them as they pass before him.

33. The reabsorption of the qualities which have consummated the aim of the
soul or the abiding of the soul united with understanding in its own nature, is
Isolation.

This is a general statement of the nature of Isolation, sometimes called
Emancipation. The qualities before spoken of, found in all objects and which
had hitherto affected and delayed the soul, have ceased to be mistaken by it
for realities, and the consequence is that the soul abides in its own nature
unaffected by the great "pairs of opposites"—pleasure and pain, good and
evil, cold and heat, and so forth.

Yet it must not be deduced that the philosophy results in a negation, or in
a coldness, such as our English word "Isolation" would

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seem to imply. The
contrary is the case. Until this state is reached, the soul, continually
affected and deflected by objects, senses, suffering, and pleasure, is unable
to consciously partake universally of the great life of the universe. To do
so, it must stand firmly "in its own nature"; and then it proceeds further —as is admitted by the philosophy—to bring about the aim of all other souls
still struggling on the road. But manifestly further aphorisms upon that would
be out of place, as well as being such as could not be understood, to say
nothing of the uselessness of giving them.